Law Enforcement

First slain female LAPD officer was 'full of life'
A memorial service Friday in North Hollywood marked the 20th anniversary of the day that the first female Los Angeles police officer was killed in the line of duty. Officer Tina Kerbrat was killed in Sun Valley just four months after graduating from the Police Academy and the day after her 45th birthday. She was on patrol with her partner when they pulled to the curb to investigate two men who appeared to be drinking beer in public. As she about to get out of the patrol car, one man charged the vehicle and fired several shots from a .357 Magnum, killing her instantly. Her partner shot and killed the gunman, Jose Amaya, 32, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador.
Los Angeles Daily News

Crime alerts for Shadow Hills, Mar Vista and eight other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 10 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Eight neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Shadow Hills was the most unusual, recording three reports compared with a weekly average of 0.2 over the last three months.
Los Angeles Times

Court shoots down claims over LAPD weapons sting
The owners of L.A. Guns, a mom-and-pop artillery store in West Hollywood, Calif., lost their civil rights appeal Friday over weapons charges brought by the Los Angeles Police Department after a 2005 search. Store owners Helene and Zoltan Szajer each pled no contest to felony possession of an illegal pistol in 2007. The LAPD got a warrant to search the Szajer's home and store after Zoltan bought unregistered assault weapons from a police informant in a sting operation.
Courthouse News Service

Large fight breaks out at North Hollywood nightclub
Over 80 people were involved in a bar fight that left at least two people injured, police say. Police received a call early Saturday morning of several fights erupting at Hacienda Corona on Victory Boulevard in North Hollywood. According to Sgt. Morrison of LAPD's North Hollywood Station, a person was hit over the head with a beer bottle and when the security guard tried to intervene several other fights broke out.
KTLA

Smokey's got brand new wheels
A new era for the police vehicle is upon us. The age of the tried and true Ford Crown Victoria is finally drawing to a close, and there is no shortage of suitors - ranging from awe-inspiring to yawn-inducing - lining up to replace it as Johnny Law's preferred transport. Here's a quick rundown of what will be protecting tomorrow's streets, as well as what you should be keeping an eye out for on the side of the road and in your rearview mirror.
MSN Autos

State & Municipal Budget Crises

Proposal floated for counties to raise vehicle tax
With local governments struggling financially, a state lawmaker has proposed giving counties the power to raise vehicle license fees with the approval of a majority of voters. Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) introduced legislation Friday that would allow county boards of supervisors to place measures on the ballot to restore the total vehicle license fee in their county to 2% of the vehicle's value, the rate used from 1948 to 1998 -- before state officials approved reductions.
Los Angeles Times

Plan to lease L.A. parking garages crumbles
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's plan for shoring up the city's budget by leasing out nine public parking garages collapsed on Friday, with the city's top budget official reporting that no one was willing to submit a bid. None of the 12 companies that have been in talks with the city for the last year were interested in the proposed concession agreement, which was supposed to generate $53 million for the city's general fund budget in the middle of a deep financial crisis, City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana said.
Los Angeles Times

Healthcare